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We were all very tired of the monotonous scene, as well as
of the labour of hauling the boats along.
4th. Our provisions being almost exhausted, and the river
as large as it was beyond the lava country, our allotted time
being out, aud every one weary and foot-sore, I decided upon
walking overland to the westward, as far as we could go in one
day, and then setting out on our return to the Beagle. I was
the more inclined to this step, because the river here made a
southerly bend, to follow which would have required at least a
day, without making much westing, and because I thought
that some of our party might walk in that time at least twice
as fai- as they could track the boats, and then return before
night. To have followed the course of the river two days longer,
we should have needed all the small remainder of onr provisions,
and probably without being enabled to see further than
we might by one day’s walk directly westward. Leaving those
who were the most tired to take care of the hoats, a party
set out early, in light marching order. A large plain lay
before us, over which slirubs, very small trees, and bushes were
sparingly scattered; yet parts of this plain might he called
fertile and woody, by comparison with the tracts between us
and the eastern sea-coast.
At noon we halted on a rising ground, made observations
for time, latitude, and bearing; rested and eat our meal; on
a spot which we found to be only sixty miles from the nearest
water of the Pacific Ocean. The Cordillera of the Andes
extended along the western side of our view ; the weather was
very clear, enabling us to discern snow-covered mountains far
in the north, and also a long way southward ; hence much of
the range was visible, but of the river we could discern nothing.
Only from the form of the land could we conclude that at the
end of the southerly reach I have mentioned, the direction of
the river is nearly east and west for a few miles, and that then
it may turn northward, or rather come from the north along
the base of the Cordillera.
There are many reasons for inducing one to suppose that it
comes not only from the north, but from a considerable dis-
.
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